This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Talk of Mary Tullius retiring as director of Utah State Parks started circulating not long after the 2011 legislative session.
It was understandable — Utah State Parks had just experienced another massive budget cut, requiring layoffs and the elimination of some programs. But Tullius said she was committed to staying put until the situation improved.
On Thursday, Tullius told The Salt Lake Tribune that the time to retire has arrived.
"We have been through some challenges — it has been an interesting road for the last eight years," said Tullius, who has been director since 2004. "The last couple of years have been pretty tough for state parks all over the nation. I've really felt like as soon as I felt we turned a corner and were headed in the right direction, where we had some support, that I could step aside and let some other folks take over."
Tullius — the first woman to hold the position of director of Utah State Parks — has been dedicated to promoting and advocating the agency since the last legislative session, and it appears to have paid off.
"We have survived the budget cuts and the parks are still open," she said. "We have had a lot of support from groups like Friends of Utah State Parks, and the State Parks Board has been very supportive. We have had productive one-on-one meetings with legislators. Everything felt like it was lining up for me to leave. I felt like I could hold my head high."
Michael Styler, Tullius' boss as the director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources, agrees.
"Mary has brought us through probably the most critical 18 months to two years in Utah State Parks history," Styler said. "She has presided really in a restructuring of the whole parks system. She deserves a lot of credit for bringing the whole organization from one standard to [a] whole higher standard."
Utah State Parks — which includes 43 parks and manages Utah's off-highway vehicle, boating and trails programs — has sustained a cut in general tax-fund dollars from $12.2 million in fiscal year 2010 to $6.7 million for the current fiscal year and a proposed $3.9 million cut for 2012.
Tullius has cut 43 full-time positions, roughly 18 percent of its workforce, since 2010.
Jeff Packer, a former State Park board chairman and now president of Friends of Utah State Parks, said he tried to discourage Tullius from leaving.
"She has served in a time of great difficulty, and she served with composure and dignity. She used common sense and worked hard at every level," Packer said. "I'm so sorry to see her go. There are few people in the state who love state parks any more than I do, and she is one of them."
Tullius said one of the things she is most proud of during her time at the agency is also a reason why she feels confident she can leave.
"One of our main initiatives over the past eight years has been to build future state parks leaders. I have 100 percent confidence in the people we have in the leadership positions," she said. "They are smart, innovative, passionate and hard-working people. The division will not skip a beat. The momentum is there, and they will keep it moving forward."
Styler said he will likely name an interim director to start on Jan. 1 and then will open the position to at least a "Western states search."
Tulllius said she plans on spending time with her loved ones doing the things she has been encouraging the people of Utah to do and will make a special purchase.
"I'll just slow down a little bit and some things I've been wanting to do for a long time. I love the outdoors, love photography, hiking, biking and golfing. The first thing I will do is buy an annual Utah State Parks pass."
Tullius hinted she might not stay retired for long.
"I think I still have a lot to offer," she said. "I'll probably be looking for some new opportunities."
Mary Tullius' background
Education • Bachelor's degree in sociology from Brigham Young University
Employment • Began working for Utah government in 1979 as a textbook coordinator for the State Office of Education, where she spent eight years in media productions.
Became public affairs coordinator for the Division of State Parks & Recreation in 1987.
Became deputy director of State Parks & Recreation in 1997.
Named interim director of State Parks in January 2004 with the departure of Courtland Nelson.
Announced her retirement for Jan. 1, 2012.